MacRumors

Two unreleased Mac models have been spotted in Steam's November 2022 survey, which gathers anonymous information from willing Steam users on specific details of their computers, including the computer's model, CPU type, memory, and more.

In the survey for November 2022, two unreleased Macs with identifiers "Mac14,6" and "Mac15,4" were spotted towards the bottom of the list, alongside model identifiers that correspond to the Mac Studio, 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro, ‌M2‌ MacBook Air, and other models.

Both "Mac14,6" and "Mac15,4" are listed with 0% usage on Steam's platform, but their placement on the list does suggest Apple may be testing the unreleased Macs with upcoming Apple silicon chips on Steam's gaming platform.

Interestingly, this isn't the first time we've seen a reference to an unannounced Mac with the model identifier "Mac14,6." That same identifier has been spotted in two separate (1,2) Geekbench score entries with the ‌M2‌ Max chip, which is likely to come first in upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros. Apple was expected to announce the updated MacBook Pro models during the fall of this year but then pushed plans until 2023.

The upcoming Macs are expected to feature ‌M2‌ Pro and ‌M2‌ Max chips with faster performance and possible options for higher memory configurations. Apple announced the ‌M2‌ chip in June, marking the beginning of the second generation of Apple silicon, which came first to the redesigned ‌MacBook Air‌ and 13-inch MacBook Pro.

(Thanks, Kim!)

The holidays are quickly approaching, which means Apple is wrapping up its final announcements and launches of 2022. This week saw Apple announce an expansion of encryption options for iCloud, a new karaoke-like experience called Apple Music Sing, and the launch of HomePod mini in new countries.

Apple is also rolling out the "biggest upgrade" ever for App Store pricing options for developers, and for those who are having a hard time getting a hold of an iPhone 14 Pro due to shortages, we took a look at why you might just want to wait until next year's models to upgrade, so read on for all the details on these stories and more!

Apple Announces End-to-End Encryption Option for iCloud Photos, Notes, Backups, and More

Apple this week announced a major expansion of end-to-end encryption for iCloud on an opt-in basis.

Starting with iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS 13.1, coming later this month, a new Advanced Data Protection feature gives users the option to enable end-to-end encryption across many other iCloud data categories, including backups, photos, notes, and more.

Apple also previewed two other security features for iMessage and Apple ID accounts that will be available in 2023.

Apple Music Sing: New Karaoke Feature Announced for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV

Apple Music Sing is a new karaoke-like feature in the Apple Music app that lets you sing along to tens of millions of songs.

The feature allows users to lower the volume of the vocals in a song and then take over as the singer within the lyrics section of the Apple Music app. You'll need a device with an A13 chip or newer, including the iPhone 11 and newer, select iPads, and the latest Apple TV 4K.

It's officially launching later this month, but it's available now for users running the iOS 16.2 beta and we went hands-on with the new feature to get a sense for how it works.

iOS 16.2 for iPhone Expected to Launch Next Week With These 12 New Features

iOS 16.2 is expected to be released next week following nearly two months of beta testing. With last-minute additions like Apple Music Sing and Advanced Data Protection, the software update now has over a dozen new features for the iPhone.

We've put together a list of 12 notable features and changes for the iPhone with iOS 16.2, including the Freeform app, a new AirDrop setting, and more.

Can't Get an iPhone 14 Pro? Here's Why You Should Wait for the iPhone 15 Ultra

Due to production issues at the main iPhone factory in China, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are currently very hard to find.

If you are unable to get your hands on an iPhone 14 Pro right now, it might be a good idea to check out our list of reasons to consider waiting for the "iPhone 15 Ultra" rumored to launch next year. New features expected include a faster USB-C port and much more.

Apple Announces App Store Changes, Including Expanded Pricing Up to $10,000

Apple this week announced it is providing developers with an additional 700 price points for App Store apps, allowing apps to be priced as low as 29 cents, or as high as $10,000 upon request.

Apple is also making it easier for developers to manage foreign exchange rate fluctuations. These changes apply now to apps offering auto-renewable subscriptions and will be available for all apps in 2023.

HomePod Mini Launching in More Countries This Month

Apple says the HomePod mini will be available in Finland, Norway, and Sweden starting December 13, with orders available now.

The smart speaker is also launching in South Africa on December 19 and in Denmark in early 2023.

It's been over two years since Apple released the HomePod mini in the United States. Earlier this week, we outlined what's next for the smart speaker.

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

Google Chrome has announced it has gained support for passkeys, a new industry-wide standard with the hope of replacing passwords by making it easier and safer to log into websites and apps.

With passkeys, users can authenticate and log into websites using their iPhone or Android devices, replacing the need for a password. On newer versions of iOS and Android, users visiting websites that support passkeys can use biometric authentication on a trusted device to confirm their identity. Writing in a blog post, Google said it was adding passkey support to Chrome, which will let users scan a QR code on their Android or ‌iPhone‌ device to log in. Passkey support is also coming to Chrome on Android.

On a desktop device you can also choose to use a passkey from your nearby mobile device and, since passkeys are built on industry standards, you can use either an Android or iOS device. A passkey doesn't leave your mobile device when signing in like this. Only a securely generated code is exchanged with the site so, unlike a password, there's nothing that could be leaked.

A number of other companies and apps have introduced or announced upcoming support for passkeys, including 1Password, PayPal, Microsoft, eBay, and more. Passkey support in Google Chrome is available now with the latest update. To learn more about passkeys, check out our explainer.

The current Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR launched three years ago today, marking Apple's return to a modular tower design for its flagship desktop Mac, as well as the company's re-entry into the external display market.

In April 2018, Apple uncharacteristically confirmed that a redesigned ‌Mac Pro‌ would be released in 2019 to replace the controversial "trashcan" model from 2013. The new machine was officially unveiled at WWDC 2019 alongside the Pro Display XDR, Apple's first new display since 2011's Thunderbolt display. The ‌Mac Pro‌ and Pro Display XDR finally launched on December 10 of that year.

The 2019 ‌Mac Pro‌ features a prominent lattice pattern originally designed for the Power Mac G4 Cube in 2000, and the internals can be easily accessed by sliding off the casing. The machine contains eight PCIe slots for expansion and was praised for its modularity and repairability. It can be purchased in a rack mount configuration or with wheels for an additional $400.

The ‌Mac Pro‌ includes three impeller fans to allow it to run at peak performance, and supports up to 1.5TB of memory, two AMD Radeon Pro GPUs, and Intel Xeon chips with up to 28 cores. It can also be configured with Apple's custom Afterburner card for accelerating ProRes. The Pro Display XDR shares the ‌Mac Pro‌'s lattice design and offers a high-resolution, 32-inch 6K panel that can replace a reference monitor.

The ‌Mac Pro‌ is priced starting at $5,999, but can reach almost $53,000 with configuration options. The Pro Display XDR starts at $4,999, but can go up to around $7,200 with options.

Three years after launch, the ‌Mac Pro‌ is one of the last Intel-based Mac models still on sale and the only remaining Mac product line with no Apple silicon chip options. An all-new model that finally brings Apple silicon to the company's top-tier Mac aimed professionals has now been anticipated for over two years. At its "Peek Performance" event earlier this year, Apple even directly teased the launch of the Apple silicon Mac Pro, saying "that's for another day."

Previously, reports about a smaller Mac Pro model placed somewhere between the Mac mini and the ‌Mac Pro‌ made it difficult to know what to expect from the future of the high-end ‌Mac Pro‌ line, but it is now clear many of these rumors related to the Mac Studio, somewhat clarifying what can be expected from the next-generation ‌Mac Pro‌.

Multiple reports from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman about the Apple silicon ‌Mac Pro‌'s chip options and specifications provide a fairly straightforward picture of what to expect from the new flagship professional Mac. According to Gurman, users will be able to configure the new ‌Mac Pro‌ with "M2 Ultra" and "M2 Extreme" chip options.

• Apple Silicon Mac Pro Configurations: Everything We Know

Yet beyond its basic specifications, little is currently known about the device's design, ports, performance, and potential for modularity and customization, in real terms. Apple is expected to introduce the Apple silicon ‌Mac Pro‌ sometime next year, and it could come alongside a "Pro" version of the Studio Display with a mini-LED panel and support for ProMotion.

This week's major deals focused on third-party accessories from companies like Samsung, Anker, Nomad, Satechi, Twelve South, and more. In addition to these accessory sales, there were still plenty of Apple product discounts going on, including all-time low prices on MacBook Air, iPad, iPad Air, and more. Many of these still have Christmas delivery options as well.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Samsung

• What's the deal? Take up to $330 off Samsung's popular Smart Monitor M8 and many more deals
• Where can I get it? Samsung
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

This week Samsung began a new "Discover Samsung" winter savings event, which included major discounts across its line of TVs, monitors, computer storage, and more. The highlight of the sale is the Smart Monitor M8 for just $399.99 in select colors, down from $729.99. You can find even more products on sale in our post.

Anker

• What's the deal? Save on Anker's best charging accessories
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Anker began a new discount event on Amazon this week, including major markdowns on cables, portable chargers, wall chargers, wireless chargers, and more. You can find the full list of accessories in our post on the sale, and be sure to note that many require you to clip an on-page coupon in order to see the sales. Anker's deals are also known to expire fast, so some of these accessories may no longer be discounted, but the majority are still on sale as of writing.

Apple Accessories

• What's the deal? Take up to 35% off with our exclusive codes from Nomad, Twelve South, Satechi, and more
• Where can I get it? Nomad, Satechi, Pad & Quill, Twelve South, and 1Password
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

This year marked the return of our annual article in which we share a collection of exclusive discounts from popular third-party accessory companies. For 2022, this list includes Nomad, Pad & Quill, Twelve South, Satechi, and 1Password. You can find full details for each sale in our article.

• Nomad - Save 20% off sitewide with code MRHOLIDAY
• Satechi - Get 25% off sitewide with code MR25
• Pad & Quill - Save 35% off regularly priced items sitewide with code MR15
• Twelve South - Save 20% off your order with code MacRumors20
• 1Password - Get 50% off first year of 1Password (new customers only)

MacBook Air

• What's the deal? Take up to $199 off M1 and M2 MacBook Air
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

The year's best prices are still around this week for both the M1 and M2 MacBook Air. If you're okay with an older model (or are shopping for someone who would be), the $799.99 price tag on the 2020 M1 MacBook Air is a great sale. The M2 MacBook Air at $1,049.00 is another solid discount for anyone shopping around for the newest model.

iPads

• What's the deal? Take up to $99 off 2022 iPad and iPad Air
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

The week began with a return of all-time low prices on both Apple's 2022 iPad and iPad Air, with up to $99 off these models. Prices start at $399.00 for the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad in select colors ($50 off), and increase to $499.99 for the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad Air in select colors ($99 off). Some of these are still in stock for Christmas delivery, so order soon if you're interested.

Magic Keyboard

• What's the deal? Take $89 off Magic Keyboard for 11-inch iPad Pro and iPad Air
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

All-time low prices continued with a new record low deal on the Magic Keyboard for the 11-inch iPad Pro and iPad Air, on sale for $209.99 on Amazon, down from $299.00. Although this one is still on sale in both white and black colors, only black can be delivered before December 25.

Apple TV 4K

• What's the deal? Take $9 off 128GB Apple TV 4K
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Apple TV 4K discounts were very popular this holiday season, but now that we're nearing the middle of December, nearly all sales have ended. The major one still around is a $9 discount on the 2022 Apple TV 4K (128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) for $139.99, down from $149.00, an all-time low price.

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Popular video editing app DaVinci Resolve from Blackmagic Design is soon going to be available on the iPad, and a beta version of the app is being tested right now. We have access to the beta, and thought we'd take a deeper look at how DaVinci Resolve performs on the ‌iPad‌ for those who are interested.

DaVinci Resolve for ‌iPad‌ was first announced in October 2022, and it is designed with multitouch technology and the Apple Pencil in mind. Performance is optimized for the Apple silicon ‌iPad‌ models, and we tested on a 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

On the latest M2 ‌iPad Pro‌ models, Ultra HD ProRes rendering is 4x faster, but it also runs well on M1 iPads.

The ‌iPad‌ version of DaVinci Resolve is basically a version of the DaVinci Resolve 18 software for the desktop, and while there are some minor interface differences, functionality is similar. The app is able to open and create standard DaVinci Resolve project files that can be used interchangeably with the desktop version of DaVinci Resolve.

In our testing, DaVinci Resolve for ‌iPad‌ worked well for most workflows, and would be suitable for day to day use. There were no dropped frames, and the editing experience was solid. Color corrections, masking, and other effects that you might assume would not do well on the ‌iPad‌ were flawless, even when working with multiple 4K clips. Make sure to watch our video to see the app in action.

Blackmagic Design is aiming to release DaVinci Resolve for the ‌iPad‌ before the end of the year, and you will need an Apple silicon ‌iPad‌ to use the software when it comes out. DaVinci Resolve for ‌iPad‌ will be free to download, but there will be a Studio version priced at $95.

In addition to a deal on the first-generation AirPods Pro with MagSafe Charging Case, Verizon is now nearly matching the all-time low price on Apple's brand new AirPods Pro 2. You can get these for $199.99, down from $249.00, which remains just about $2 away from the best price we ever tracked on the accessory.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Verizon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Although they were around $197 on Woot prior to Black Friday, that sale was very rare and disappeared quickly. The $199.99 price tag has been the most consistent deal on the AirPods Pro 2 all season, and as of today only Verizon is offering the sale with all other retailers having ended their promotions.

Although it may return at other retailers, this could be the last chance to get the AirPods Pro 2 in stock and at a discount for Christmas delivery. Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.

Ericsson today announced it has reached a patent license agreement with Apple that will settle a long-running dispute between the two companies over patents related to cellular technology.

The dispute dates back to early 2015 when the two companies sued each other over dozens of Ericsson patents related to cellular technology used in Apple products such as the iPhone and iPad.

The companies reached a seven-year patent licensing agreement in late 2015 that appeared to put an end to the dispute, but it was revived in late 2021 and early 2022 as the 2015 agreement neared its end and the companies were unable to agree on terms for extending the agreement and incorporating additional patents related to newer 5G technology.

With today's announcement, Ericsson and Apple have entered into a new multi-year agreement for cross-licensing cellular-related patents and additional patent rights.

Christina Petersson, Chief Intellectual Property Officer at Ericsson says: “We are pleased to settle the litigations with Apple with this agreement, which is of strategic importance to our 5G licensing program. This will allow both companies to continue to focus on bringing the best technology to the global market.”

In addition to the patent licensing, the agreement also includes commitments from both companies to strengthen their existing collaborations, "including in technology, interoperability and standards development."

For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Southern Straps to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an Apple Watch Series 8 in aluminum and a matching nylon Southern Straps Apple Watch band.

Southern Straps is a small business that makes a range of Apple Watch bands available in both leather and nylon materials. There are 18 watch band styles in total, all of which can be ordered with custom hardware in black, silver, and gold to match your Apple Watch.

The bands from Southern Straps are available in sizes that work with all models of the Apple Watch, from the older 38mm Apple Watch to the new 49mm Apple Watch Ultra. The hand stitched leather bands come in either black or brown leather, while there's a whole selection of colors available in nylon. Leather bands are priced at $69, and nylon bands are priced at $49, plus there's a buy two get a third free deal.

All of the nylon bands from Southern Straps are made from a single piece of nylon that is doubled over, heat sealed, and stitched for impressive durability. Southern Straps is so confident in the sturdiness of the nylon band that they offer a five year warranty for each one.

Nylon bands are equipped with pegged spring bars so the hardware can be swapped out or upgraded for changes in watch material or watch sizing. The nylon bands are available in solid colors like green, sand, black, and there are also several multicolor striped options. Two colors like green and blue or black and grey are available, and there are even three-color options like blue, black, and orange.

Southern Straps bands are ideal for everyday wear, from sports activities to work and play. All of the bands are hand made, and the company's goal is to ensure that only the best quality straps end up on customer wrists.

We have one aluminum Apple Watch Series 8 (winner to pick size) and one nylon Southern Straps band up for grabs. To enter to win our giveaway, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (December 9) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on December 16. The winner will be chosen randomly on December 16 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.

Starting with iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS 13.1, all of which are expected to be released next week, users have the option to enable a new Advanced Data Protection feature that expands end-to-end encryption to many additional areas of iCloud, including Messages backups, Photos, Notes, Reminders, Voice Memos, and more.

To protect users, Apple does not allow Advanced Data Protection to be enabled from a brand new device for an unspecified period after the device was first set up and added to a user's Apple ID account. We have seen dates range from late January to early February for when users will be able to turn on the feature from a new device. This buffer helps to prevent a malicious actor from enabling the feature if a user is hacked.

Users can still enable Advanced Data Protection from an older device they added to the same Apple ID account, such as another iPhone, iPad, or Mac. In this case, all devices added to that Apple ID account are fully protected by the expanded end-to-end encryption for iCloud, including newer ones that are still in the waiting period.

Turning on Advanced Data Protection removes your encryption keys from Apple's servers for the iCloud categories protected by the feature, ensuring that your data remains secure even in the case of a data breach in the cloud. When the feature is enabled, the encryption keys are only stored on your trusted Apple devices, meaning that they cannot be accessed by Apple or others. The feature can be turned off at any time, at which point your devices will securely upload the encryption keys to Apple's servers again.

When Advanced Data Protection is enabled, access to your data via iCloud.com is disabled by default. Users can turn on data access on iCloud.com, which allows the web browser and Apple to have temporary access to data-specific encryption keys.

iCloud already protects 14 data categories using end-to-end encryption by default, without Advanced Data Protection enabled, including passwords stored in iCloud Keychain, Health data, Apple Maps search history, Apple Card transactions, and more. Apple has a support document with a chart detailing what is protected by standard levels of encryption and what is protected by Advanced Data Protection when enabled.

Advanced Data Protection is available for U.S. users only at launch and will start rolling out to the rest of the world in early 2023, according to Apple. For more details about the feature, read our coverage of Apple's announcement earlier this week.

All-time low prices on Apple's AirPods lineup have been hard to come by in the wake of Black Friday, but on Verizon you can still get the best price we've ever tracked on the first-generation AirPods Pro with MagSafe Charging Case. This model is available for $159.99, down from their original price of $249.99.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Verizon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

As with other Verizon sales, free two day shipping is available and you don't need to be a Verizon customer to get this deal. This price point on the AirPods Pro is a match of the all-time low price that we saw over Black Friday.

Stock for the 2021 AirPods Pro has been dwindling since the announcement of the second generation model, so Verizon's deal today makes for a great chance to get the previous generation model at its best price before it disappears again.

This model of the AirPods Pro was introduced in 2021 with the MagSafe Charging Case, but otherwise the headphones themselves are the same as the 2019 AirPods Pro.

If you're looking for latest second-generation AirPods Pro, Verizon also has a discount on those, bringing them down to $199.99 from $249.99.

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Apple is accepting orders for the HomePod mini in Finland, Norway, and Sweden on its online store. The smart speaker is available in space gray, white, blue, orange, and yellow and is estimated for delivery in 4-6 business days in each country.

HomePod mini pricing is set at €109 in Finland, 1,249 kr in Norway, and 1,295 kr in Sweden, compared to $99 in the United States.

Apple previously announced that the HomePod mini would be available in these countries starting December 13 and orders can be placed in advance. Apple said the HomePod mini will also be available in South Africa starting December 19 and in Denmark next year.

Apple first released the HomePod mini in the U.S. and select other countries in November 2020. With Siri, the smart speaker can be used for listening to music, controlling HomeKit smart home accessories, setting a timer, and other tasks. Beyond new colors, the device has not received any hardware changes since launching two years ago.

iOS 16 is installed on almost 70% of compatible devices as the update's 100-day launch anniversary approaches, according to third-party analytics website Mixpanel.

iOS 16 was released to the public on September 12, 2022, and was initially doing better than last year's iOS 15 update regarding how quickly users were updating their iPhone to the newest version. Apple periodically shares adoption numbers for its latest operating system but has not yet done so for iOS 16.

According to Mixpanel, iOS 16 is installed on 68.90% of devices, with iOS 15 at 24.82% and iPhones running older operating systems at around 7%. iOS 16 has had multiple updates since its release in September, addressing bugs being experienced by users previously causing some to be reluctant to update.

Apple is expected to release iOS 16.2 this month, bringing multiple new features to iPhone users, including Apple Music Sing, Advanced Data Protection, new Lock Screen widgets, new options for the always-on display on the iPhone 14 Pro, and more.

Foxconn, Apple's largest supplier, has invested $500 million in India to bolster its production capabilities in the country as the Cupertino tech-giant and its partners ramp up efforts to diversify the supply chain, South China Morning Post reports.

The report cites documents filed in the Taiwan Stock Exchange which show that Foxconn has invested $500 million into its Indian subsidiary in hopes of increasing its production capacity in India. Foxconn already has an existing presence in the country, producing select iPhone models, including the iPhone 14 with reported plans to make other products, such as the iPad.

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Apple was making more aggressive plans to move its supply chain solely out of China and into other countries such as India and Vietnam. Apple warned last month that the supply of iPhone 14 Pro models would be heavily constrained due to ongoing disruption to Foxconn's ‌iPhone‌ production plants in China.

Ahead of the holidays, the supply of Apple's highest-end ‌iPhone‌ models remains heavily limited, with the company's online store estimating a three-week wait for customers looking for the latest ‌iPhone‌. Apple CEO Tim Cook said during the company's last earnings call that it's "working hard" to meet the demand for the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro Max.

Last month, Geekbench scores for an unannounced Mac running the upcoming M2 Max chip surfaced online, showing only minor performance increases compared to the M1 Max. Now, another set of scores claiming to be for the ‌M2‌ Max chip has surfaced online, showing a larger jump in performance.

In the Geekbench scores last week, the ‌M2‌ Max chip scored 1,853 in single-core and 13,855 in multi-core, representing only a minor jump compared to its predecessor. Now, in a new set of scores alleged for the ‌M2‌ Max, the chip scored 2,027 in single-core and 14,888 in multi-core. For reference, the ‌M1 Max‌ chip achieves 1,755 in single-core and 12,334 in multi-core.

The new Geekbench scores offer no further details over any upcoming Macs, which we expect first to be 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros. The scores list the chip as running on a Mac with an identifier "Mac14,6" with 96GB of memory and running macOS Ventura 13.2. The only difference between today's scores and last month's ones is that the updated scores show an ‌M2‌ Max chip with a higher base frequency of 3.68 GHz compared to 3.54 GHz, which could explain the higher scores.

Apple was initially expected to announce updated Macs with ‌M2‌ Pro and ‌M2‌ Max chips in November this year, but the company pushed plans until early 2023. Apple has multiple new Macs in the work, including an updated iMac and MacBook Pro.

The Google Chrome app for Mac was today updated with new Memory Saver and Energy Saver modes, which are designed to give users more control over memory usage and battery life.

Memory Saver mode frees up memory from tabs that are not being actively used, allowing for a smoother experience for tabs that are in use. Google says that this mode is particularly useful when doing other system intensive tasks like editing videos or playing games. Tabs that are inactive are reloaded when needed.

With Energy Saver mode, Chrome will automatically limit battery draining tasks when the battery hits 20 percent. Background activity will be limited, as will visual effects for websites with animations and videos.

Energy Saver and Memory Saver can be toggled on or off using the three-dot menu in Chrome, and important websites can be marked as exempt from Memory Saver.

The new modes are rolling out with the latest release of the Chrome app for Mac (version 108), and will be available to all users around the world in the coming weeks.

Satechi today announced the launch of a new Duo Wireless Charger Power Stand, which is capable of charging up to three devices at one time with a built-in 10,000mAh battery.

Priced at $99.99, the Duo Wireless Charger Power Stand features a folding design with a magnetic charging base for the iPhone. The charging platform features Qi-based wireless charging, maxing out at 7.5W. There is also a platform for charging the AirPods, with 10W charging total possible.

Satechi says that the stand has been designed for making hands-free calls, streaming videos, listening to music, and more while on the go. The dock can be placed flush with the base or upright for viewing in landscape or portrait modes.

Along with the wireless charging platforms for ‌iPhone‌ and AirPods, there is also a USB-C port for charging one additional device. Because the stand is foldable, it can be tucked in a pocket or a backpack for charging anywhere.

The Satechi Duo Wireless Charger Power Stand can be purchased from the Satechi website for $99.99, but there is a 25 percent off discount available with the promo code DUO25 through December 15.

Samsung today began a new winter deals event, offering sales on TVs, tablets, monitors, memory, audio accessories, and more. The "Discover Samsung" event is set to run through December 15 and introduce new deals of the day every day of the sale.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Below we've collected a few of the highlights of the sale, particularly focusing on major discounts on Samsung TVs and monitors. The new sale continues Samsung's discount on the 32-inch Smart Monitor M8, available for $399.99 in select colors, down from $729.99, an all-time low price on the iMac-like monitor.

TVs

• 50-inch The Frame Smart TV - $899.99, down from $1,299.99
• 55-inch OLED 4K Smart TV - $1,449.99, down from $2,099.99
• 75-inch Neo QLED 4K Smart TV - $1,799.99, down from $2,599.99
• 85-inch QLED 4K Smart TV - $2,199.99, down from $3,299.99

Monitors

• 24-inch LED Monitor - $99.99, down from $179.99
• 32-inch Smart Monitor M5 - $199.99, down from $299.99
• 32-inch Smart Monitor M7 - $299.99, down from $399.99
• 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 - $399.99, down from $729.99
• 49-inch Odyssey G9 Gaming Monitor - $899.99, down from $1,499.99
• 55-inch Odyssey Ark 4K Curved Monitor - $2,499.99, down from $3,499.99

Storage

• 980 PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD 500GB - $49.99, down from $59.99
• 980 PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD 1TB - $89.99, down from $119.99
• 870 EVO SATA 2.5" SSD 1TB - $89.99, down from $119.99
• 870 QVO SATA III 2.5" SSD 2TB - $179.99, down from $199.99

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.